BP Oil Spill: Gearing up for final tests

The scientists have arrived on a unanimous decision last night that BP's oil spill was the worst accidental oil spill in history. They are planning an important test today that will confirm the progress on final stages of testing for suppressing the deepwater horizon oil rig in The Gulf of Mexico.
Nearly 5 million barrels of oil has gushed into the ocean since the deepwater horizon rig exploded and sank in April this year. 
Under the Clean Water Act, BP faces a fine of $1,100 (£691) a barrel, or $4,300 a barrel if it is found that the spill was the result of gross negligence. As a result, BP could be fined either $5.4bn or $21bn. The federal team reckon BP's own containment efforts saved about 800,000 barrels which could be taken into account as a mitigating factor, reducing the fine to either $4.5bn or $17.6bn.
If tests go to plan, BP will begin pumping mud into the well from a nearby ship loaded with 8,000 barrels of it. The plan is to slowly force the oil back down into the reservoir by steadily pumping in the heavier mud. If successful, BP will be able to either cement the well from the top, or wait until the relief wells – which are due to be completed later this month – have reached the correct depth and cement the well from the bottom.


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